Politics / Assam

GUWAHATI, April 25: The Chief Minister and the AGP president, Prafulla Kumar Mahanta today refused to be drawn into a war of words with National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) which yesterday issued stricture against him for his earlier critical remarks on the rights body over the issue related to his colleague in the Ministry, Rajendra Mushahary, accused of raping and impregnating a minor school girl. The NHRC yesterday issued stricture against Mahanta for trying to belittle the role of the Commission without understanding its function. However, Mahanta today refused to make any comment on...

SHILLONG, April 25: Union Minister of State for Home Affairs I D Swami has arrived at Mancachar in Assam bordering Bangladesh today for an on-the-spot assessment of the border situation after the killing of 16 BSF personnel by Bangladesh Rifles, reports PTI. Swami was accompanied by the Joint Secretary in charge of Northeast GK Pillai. Swami was received at mancachar by V K Gaur, Inspector General of BSF headquarters here. Swami will stay here tonight after visiting mancachar area. He will then visit Pyrdiwah in Khasi hills district of Meghalaya and Lathitill in Assam tomorrow, BSF Commandant...

SHILLONG, April 25: The Bangla intrusions into Pyrdiwah village in Meghalaya has exposed the sinister designs of Bangladesh to create a 'greater Bangladesh', BJP general secretary in-charge of Northeast Border Area States, P B Acharya has warned. Speaking to newsmen here today, he cautioned that the entire country should remain fore-warned by the intrusions by a supposedly 'friendly' country. The incident is only the 'tip of the iceberg' and is an indication of the serious threat to the security and integrity of the entire Northeastern region, Acharya contended. 'The threat is really serious...

NEW DELHI, April 24: In a development that may raise the hackles of the human rights bodies, the Minister of Home Affairs (MHA) has identified the Assam based Manab Adhikar Sangram Samiti (MASS) as among six Non-Government Organisations (NGOs) having links with the militant outfits. The fall out of the move is that all the state governments in the Northeastern Region have been alerted not to release any government funds to any NGO in the region without proper verification. It has been decided that the Union government would release funds to NGOs in the region only after physical verifications...

JORHAT, April 24: While literally 'banning' the BJP, the Assam Tea Tribes Students' Association (ATTSA) has warned political parties and their henchmen not to enter tea gardens or approach labour quarters after 7 pm to seek support for the ensuing Assembly elections. An emergent meeting held here on Saturday under the presidentship of the Association's Jorhat district unit president Durga Bhumij, while singling out the BJP for 'special treatment' for their lackadaisical attitude towards the over 60 lakh strong tea tribe electorate, also lambasted the AGP-led Government for turning a deaf ear...

NEW DELHI, April 24: In an unprecendented act, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) today passed strictures against Assam Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta, blasting him for trying to belittle the Commission without understanding the Commission's role and functions. For a Chief Minister who is facing polls next month, the NHRC's ruling can come as a blow to his reputation and his sense of justice. The NHRC has condemned the Chief Minister for questioning its working. The issue related to shielding of a Minister in his cabinet, Rajendra Mushahary, accused of raping a minor girl. The...

GUWAHATI, April 24: Internal squabbles in Congress took a turn for the worse with a section of disgruntled Congress workers from West Guwahati area led by one Prasanta Malla Bujarbaruah resorted vendalism at the party headquarter, Rajiv Bhawan, here today. About 200 angry Congressmen who bayed for blood of certain senior APCC leaders for "irregularities" in selection of party nominees, swooped down on the APCC headquarter forcing several senior Congressmen present there to run for safety. The mob went on rampage destroying property in the APCC headquarter besides burning down publicity...

NEW DELHI, April 24: The BSF on Monday night said it was "not justified" for Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) to change the status of the Indo-Bangla border by "using force" as the matter was pending before the Governments of the two countries, reports PTI. In a statement here, the BSF said its stand on demarcation of the border was clear that "since the transfer of adverse possession land is connected with demarcation of the complete border of India and Bangladesh, and the matter is pending with both the Governments, it is not justified on the part of BDR to try to change the status of the area...

AGARTALA, April 24: Close on the heels of the killing of 16 BSF men, the Bangladesh Rifles made an abortive bid to occupy a border outpost in Karimganj district, but were repulsed after the Indian border guards opened fire, a top BSF official said today, reports PTI. The BDR along with people in "plain clothes, who could be villagers", advanced on the Lathitilla border outpost in the district yesterday, BSF DIG (G) S Basumatary told reporters here. The BSF challenged them and opened fire, with the BDR and others with them beating a hasty retreat, the DIG BSF said. He said maximum alert was...

GUWAHATI, April 23: The regional Asom Gana Parishad today formalised poll alliance with the formidable combine of All-Bodo Students Union (ABSU) and Bodo People's Action Committee (BPAC) providing more teeth to its effort to prevent Congress from capturing power in the May 10 election. The ABSU-BPAC and AGP alliance was formalised after both the parties had signed an agreement on common minimum programme. Apparently, AGP has emerged gainer out of the poll pact as it will receive active support of the ABSU-BPAC in 26 constituencies for supporting ABSU-BPAC candidates in only nine Assembly seats...